Stokes-parameter analysis of the polarization of light transmitted through a chiral nematic liquid-crystal cell

Woon, K.L. and O'Neill, M. and Richards, G.J. and Aldred, M.P. and Kelly, S.M. (2005) Stokes-parameter analysis of the polarization of light transmitted through a chiral nematic liquid-crystal cell. Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics, Image Science & Vision (JOSA A), 22 (4). pp. 760-766. ISSN 1084-7529, DOI https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.22.000760.

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Official URL: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/josaa/abstract.cfm?u...

Abstract

A spectroscopic Stokes polarimeter is used to directly measure the linearly, circularly, and randomly polarized components of light obtained on transmission of unpolarized light through thick chiral nematic liquid-crystal cells in the stop band. The Stokes parameters are simulated to fit the experimental data by use of the Berreman 4 × 4 transfer matrix by means of the Jones and Stokes vectors and taking into account multiple reflections at the interfaces of the cell. Excellent agreement is obtained. The transmitted light through a commercial cell is mainly circularly polarized at normal incidence, but a significant linearly polarized component is also observed. The model shows that this results from refractive-index mismatching at the liquid-crystal–alignment-layer interface, but a small linearly polarized component remains even with optimized index matching. An improved device configuration incorporating random defects at the exit boundary of the liquid crystal gives a highly circularly polarized output with virtually no linear or unpolarized components.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Stokes-parameter analysis; Polarization of light transmitted; Chiral nematic liquid-crystal cell
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Department of Physics
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 27 Feb 2015 04:07
Last Modified: 27 Feb 2015 04:07
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/12897

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